5 players to watch out for in the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match

Its El Clasico time in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season as arch-rivals, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) go head-to-head in the third match scheduled to be hosted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai during the second fixture on 23 March, 2025. Both these teams are the most successful teams in the history of the T20 tournament as there are a total of 10 IPL teams between them. However, things have not been that great for these two franchises in the recent while as CSK won their last trophy in 2023 while Mumbai Indians lifted their most recent title in 2020. But a fresh IPL 2025 season awaits these two fierce competitors and some talented players will be in action during the exciting CSK vs MI encounter on Sunday. 

Top five contenders to watch out for in the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match

1. Rohit Sharma

A lot has changed for Rohit Sharma since the previous season of the Indian Premier League 2024 season as he has managed to win both the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as Indian captain. Incidentally, he has also been exceptional with the bat in both these competition including being named as the Player of the Match in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. During the IPL 2024 season, Rohit Sharma managed to score a total of 417 runs from as many as 14 matches at a brilliant strike-rate of 150. On the other hand, the experienced Indian opener went on to smash an impressive tally of 257 runs in 8 games at an exceptional strike-rate of over 156 during the winning T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. He will be eyeing to replicate his amazing international cricket form into IPL 2025 as well especially after being retired from T20I cricket.

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad surely has a point to prove both with the bat and his leadership skills in the IPL 2025 season. He is yet to confirm his spot mainly in the Indian T20I team and the IPL 2025 is the perfect platform to score truckload of runs with a sizzling impact. The CSK captain went on to score a total of 583 runs from 14 matches in IPL 2024 at a strike-rate of 141.16 that included 4 fifties and 1 century. Incidentally, the right-hander won the Orange Cap in CSK's sensational triumph during IPL 2021 having finished as the highest run-scorer with an impressive tally of 635 runs in 16 games that consisted of four half-centuries and one hundred. 

3. Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai Indians regular captain Hardik Pandya will not be available for the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match because of his over-rate suspension and in his absence, India's current T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav will lead the five-time champions on Sunday. Interestingly, the right-hander has not experienced the best of forms with the bat during the last few international T20I series and he will be hoping to once again score runs on a consistent basis this year. However, Suryakumar had an excellent IPL 2024 season with the bat for the Mumbai Indians as he notched up a fine tally of 345 runs from 11 games at a remarkable strike-rate of close to 170 that consisted of 3 fifties and 1 hundred. 

4. Shivam Dube

It was the Chennai Super Kings that gave recognition and platform to swashbuckling batter Shivam Dube and he took his game to another level especially in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League. The southpaw batter scored close to 400 runs in IPL 2024 at a fantastic strike-rate of over 162. He also contributed with some crucial performances in the winning Indian team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. While talking about his IPL career so far, Dube has smashed 1502 runs from 65 matches at a strike-rate of nearly 150 that includes 9 half-centuries. Since the T20 World Cup, he has been in and out of the national side and this IPL 2025 will be the right opportunity to solidify his spot.

5. Trent Boult

Mumbai Indians have one again reunited with New Zealand's senior left-arm pacer Trent Boult after picking him at a price of INR 12.50 Crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. While playing for the Rajasthan Royals, he ended up taking 16 wickets from as many games in IPL 2024 at an economy of 8.30. Before switching to Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022, Boult was part of the Mumbai Indians franchise and has contributed with many match-winning performances for MI with the ball. Mumbai Indians will not have the services of their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah atleast in the opening few games of IPL 2025 and thus, there will be a lot of responsibility on Trent Boult's shoulders to lead the fast bowling department.